NilgAI Antelope

Nilgai Antelope come from India and occur over almost the entire country. They are a member of the Bovine family and are related closely to the African spiral-horned Antelopes. The short coat of the males gradually turns blue-grey as they mature. Nilgai means Blue Bull in India. The female has a yellow-brown coat, and both sexes have a tuff of hair like a beard on the underside of the neck. Nilgai do well in zoos, and are very popular on Texas game farms.

More than 60 percent of Nilgai births bring twins. The Nilgai live in herds of 15 to 20 animals, with the exception of the old bulls which tend to be solitary animals. It is estimated that there are over one million of these animals ranging across India and 15,000 in captivity in the State of Texas.

Grazing Nilgais sometimes lower themselves to their "knees", and when eating leaves they can stand on their hind legs for a short time. When chased, Nilgai can run up to 29 mph (48 kph). Adult male Nilgais can weigh up to 530 pounds (240 kg), and females can weigh up to 275 pounds (125 kg). The babies will weigh about 30 to 35 pounds (13 to 16 kg) at birth, and reach sexual maturity at about 18 months. Nilgai have a lifespan of about 20 years.

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